Prevalence and perspectives of illegal trade in cacti and succulent plants in the collector community

Although illegal wildlife trade (IWT) represents a serious threat to biodiversity, research into the prevalence of illegal plant collection and trade remains scarce. Because cacti and succulents are heavily threatened by overcollection for often illegal, international ornamental trade, we surveyed 441 members of the cacti and succulent hobbyist collector community with a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. We sought to understand collector perspectives on the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) and on the threats IWT poses to cactus and succulent conservation. Most respondents (74% of 401 respondents) stated that illegal collection in cacti and succulents represents a “very serious problem” and that the problem of wild plant collection is increasing (72% of 319 respondents). Most forms of illegal collection and trade were seen as very unacceptable by respondents. Self-reported noncompliance with CITES rules was uncommon (11.2% of 418 respondents); it remains a persistent problem in parts of the cacti and succulent hobbyist community. People engaging in rule breaking, such as transporting plants without required CITES documents, generally did so knowingly. Although 60.6% of 381 respondents regarded CITES as a very important tool for conservation, sentiment toward CITES and its efficacy in helping species conservation was mixed. Collectors in our survey saw themselves as potentially playing important roles in cactus and succulent conservation, but this potential resource remains largely untapped. Our results suggest the need for enhanced consultation with stakeholders in CITES decision-making. For challenging subjects like IWT, developing evidence-based responses demands deep interdisciplinary engagement, including assessing the conservation impact of species listings on CITES appendices.     

A systematic review of animal personality in conservation science

Although animal personality research may have applied uses, this suggestion has yet to be evaluated by assessing empirical studies examining animal personality and conservation. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature relating to conservation science and animal personality. Criteria for inclusion in our review included access to full text, primary research articles, and relevant animal conservation or personality focus (i.e., not human personality studies). Ninety-two articles met these criteria. We summarized the conservation contexts, testing procedures (including species and sample size), analytical approach, claimed personality traits (activity, aggression, boldness, exploration, and sociability), and each report's key findings and conservation-focused suggestions. Although providing evidence for repeatability in behavior is crucial for personality studies, repeatability quantification was implemented in only half of the reports. Nonetheless, each of the 5 personality traits were investigated to some extent in a range of conservations contexts. The most robust studies in the field showed variance in how personality relates to other ecologically important variables across species and contexts. Moreover, many studies were first attempts at using personality for conservation purposes in a given study system. Overall, it appears personality is not yet a fully realized tool for conservation. To apply personality research to conservation problems, we suggest researchers think about where individual differences in behavior may affect conservation outcomes in their system, assess where there are opportunities for repeated measures, and follow the most current methodological guides on quantifying personality.     

长江中游典型湖泊沉积物重金属分布特征、生态风险评估及溯源

集中采集洞庭湖、洪湖和赤湖表层沉积物样品并检测其中10种重金属含量,使用地理信息系统表征空间分布,利用地累积污染指数法（I_geo）、富集因子法（EF）和潜在生态风险指数法（RI）协同评估重金属积累的潜在风险,并利用相关性分析（Pearson）和主成分分析（PCA）溯源.结果表明,Cd元素的污染状况和潜在生态风险最为严重,东洞庭湖、洪湖和赤湖中ω（Cd）的平均值分别为2.85、1.59和3.57 mg·kg^-1,分别是对应省份土壤背景值的25.87、11.36和37.58倍,均超出风险筛选值（0.6 mg·kg^-1）,其中赤湖超出风险管制值（3.0 mg·kg^-1）.除Cd外,洪湖中的As值得关注,赤湖中的Cu、As、Zn和Pb都不容忽视.三湖的潜在生态风险排序为：赤湖（RI=1 127）>东洞庭湖（RI=831）>洪湖（RI=421）.重金属来源主要是工矿业冶采、农业生产和水产养殖等,部分重金属（Mn和Cu）为自然源.研究对长江中游典型湖泊沉积物重金属防控具有重要意义.     

实施最严格的野生动物保护:中国现状与改革方向

随着全球工业化和城市化的快速发展,野生动物及其栖息地保护面临着前所未有的挑战。本文识别了我国的野生动物保护存在的主要问题:(1)现行《野生动物保护法》对野生动物保护范围界定过窄,资源利用主导思维干扰了野生动物保护,缺乏对生态系统与生物安全的足够重视。(2)由于现行野生动物保护立法、执法和管理制度不健全甚至缺失,导致野生动物驯养繁殖交易市场长期混乱,甚至成为非法野生动物交易的"洗白工具"。(3)社会公众群体尊重和保护野生动物意识淡薄,全民参与和监督举报机制不健全。本文认为,我国应该实施最严格的野生动物保护制度,实现人与野生动物平等、文明、和谐相处,建议:(1)树立尊重野生动物物种生存权、人与野生动物文明和谐相处的理念,摒弃野生动物资源利用观,重构人与野生动物平等共存关系。(2)清晰界定野生动物法律定义,扩大野生动物保护范围,围绕捕猎、繁育、运输、储存、转让、食用等环节,全面、科学、精准地构建最严格的野生动物保护制度。(3)立足于全面保护野生动物,严格禁止滥食滥用野生动物和过度商业化利用,实行野生动物保护利用特许制度,并大幅提高标准严格控制交易和利用,建立职责清晰的执法监管和惩治体系。(4)建立最严格的野生动物保护公众参与和司法治理体系,实施野生动物非法贸易、猎杀的行政公益诉讼制度,引导公众建立爱护保护野生动物、不食不用野生动物的文明行为,最终实现人类社会与野生动物的文明和谐共处。     

Five-wheel framework for system-based monitoring of heavy metal pollution in rivers

Sectorial approach for monitoring heavy metal pollution in rivers has failed to report realistic pollution status and associated ecological and human health risks. The increasing spread of heavy metals from different sources and emerging risks to human and environmental health call for reexamining heavy metal pollution monitoring frameworks. Also, the sources, spread, and load of heavy metals in the environment have changed significantly over time, requiring consequent modification in the monitoring frameworks. Therefore, studies on heavy metal monitoring in rivers conducted in the last decade were evaluated for experimental designs, research frameworks, and data presentations. Most studies (∼99%) (i) lacked inclusiveness of all environmental compartments; (ii) focused on “one pollutant – one/two compartment” or sometimes “one pollutant – one compartment – one effect” approach; and (iii) remained “data-rich but information poor.” An ecological approach with integrative system thinking is proposed to develop a holistic approach for monitoring river pollution. It is visualized that heavy metal monitoring, risk analyses, and water management must incorporate tracking pollutants in different environmental compartments of a river (water, sediment, and floodplain/bank soil) and consider correlating it with riverbank land use. The systems-based pollution monitoring and assessment studies will reveal the critical factors that drive heavy metals pollutant movement in ecosystems and associated potential risks to the environment, wildlife, and humans. Also, water quality and pollution indexing tools would help better communicate complex pollution data and associated risks among all stakeholders. Therefore, integrating systems approaches in scientific- and policy-based tools would help sustainably manage the health of rivers, wildlife, and humans.     

Building a global taxonomy of wildlife offenses

Most countries have many pieces of legislation that govern biodiversity, including a range of criminal, administrative, and civil law provisions that state how wildlife must be legally used, managed, and protected. However, related debates in conservation, such as about enforcement, often overlook the details within national legislation that define which specific acts are illegal, the conditions under which laws apply, and how they are sanctioned. Based on a review of 90 wildlife laws in 8 high-biodiversity countries with different legal systems, we developed a taxonomy that describes all types of wildlife offenses in those countries. The 511 offenses are organized into a hierarchical taxonomy that scholars and practitioners can use to help conduct legal analyses. This is significant amidst competing calls to strengthen, deregulate, and reform wildlife legislation, particularly in response to fears over zoonotic threats and large-scale biodiversity loss. It can be used to provide more nuance legal analyses and facilitate like-for-like comparisons across countries, informing processes to redraft conservation laws, review deregulation efforts, close loopholes, and harmonize legislation across jurisdictions. We applied the taxonomy in a comparison of sanctions in 8 countries for hunting a protected species. We found not only huge ranges in fines (US$0 to $200,000) and imprisonment terms (1.5 years to life imprisonment), but also fundamentally different approaches to designing sanctions for wildlife offenses. The taxonomy also illustrates how future legal taxonomies can be developed for other environmental issues (e.g., invasive species, protected areas).     

多风险源驱动下的土地生态风险评价——以江苏省射阳县为例

我国正处于快速城镇化阶段,土地利用格局变化改变了土地生态系统的结构和功能,造成土地生态风险的进一步加剧和风险来源的多样化。论文根据风险来源、风险受体和风险效应的作用关系,提出了基于多源风险的发生概率、风险受体的抵御和自我恢复能力及其暴露于风险环境下可能发生的损失的土地生态风险表征方法。选取适当的指标计算得出风险来源指数、自然系统损失度和恢复力、社会系统损失度和恢复力、自然风险指数、社会风险指数和综合风险指数。论文以江苏射阳县为例开展实证研究,结果表明：射阳县城所在地社会风险指数最高,东部沿海丹顶鹤自然保护区自然风险指数最高,需要加强对这些地区的限制建设和生态保护。县城周边以及中东部大片区域综合风险指数较低,可以进行进一步的城镇发展和土地开发利用。论文提出的土地生态风险评价方法可为土地利用的风险评估提供方法参考,研究结论可为射阳新型城镇化发展与生态环境保护提供决策参考。     

南京市机动车排放VOCs的污染特征与健康风险评价

在南京富贵山隧道开展机动车排放的挥发性有机物(VOCs)对环境及人群健康的影响研究,对VOCs浓度水平与变化特征、组成与化学反应活性进行了分析,并通过美国环境保护局(US EPA)的健康风险评价模型对VOCs的健康风险进行了评价.结果表明,隧道进口与出口空气中共检测出93种物质,隧道进口处样品的总VOCs浓度(87.28±7.08)μg/m3;隧道出口处总VOCs浓度(225.63±59.19)μg/m3.隧道出口检测到的烷烃和芳香烃这两类物质浓度比进口浓度高.隧道进口与出口处的VOCs总臭氧生成潜势为101.48μg O3/m3和402.01μg O3/m3.健康风险评价结果表明,隧道进口处14种主要VOCs的非致癌风险危害商值(HQ)在8.07×10-5~2.66×10-1之间,而在隧道出口处的HQ范围为3.18×10-4~2.92×10-1.隧道进口与出口处的VOCs的非致癌风险危险指数(HI)均小于1,非致癌风险值在安全范围之内.但1,3-丁二烯、氯仿、四氯化碳、苯和1,1,2-三氯乙烷的致癌风险较大,对人体健康具有明显的影响.     

Multiscale Factors Affecting Human Attitudes toward Snow Leopards and Wolves

The threat posed by large carnivores to livestock and humans makes peaceful coexistence between them difficult. Effective implementation of conservation laws and policies depends on the attitudes of local residents toward the target species. There are many known correlates of human attitudes toward carnivores, but they have only been assessed at the scale of the individual. Because human societies are organized hierarchically, attitudes are presumably influenced by different factors at different scales of social organization, but this scale dependence has not been examined. We used structured interview surveys to quantitatively assess the attitudes of a Buddhist pastoral community toward snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and wolves (Canis lupus). We interviewed 381 individuals from 24 villages within 6 study sites across the high‐elevation Spiti Valley in the Indian Trans‐Himalaya. We gathered information on key explanatory variables that together captured variation in individual and village‐level socioeconomic factors. We used hierarchical linear models to examine how the effect of these factors on human attitudes changed with the scale of analysis from the individual to the community. Factors significant at the individual level were gender, education, and age of the respondent (for wolves and snow leopards), number of income sources in the family (wolves), agricultural production, and large‐bodied livestock holdings (snow leopards). At the community level, the significant factors included the number of smaller‐bodied herded livestock killed by wolves and mean agricultural production (wolves) and village size and large livestock holdings (snow leopards). Our results show that scaling up from the individual to higher levels of social organization can highlight important factors that influence attitudes of people toward wildlife and toward formal conservation efforts in general. Such scale‐specific information can help managers apply conservation measures at appropriate scales. Our results reiterate the need for conflict management programs to be multipronged. Factores Multi‐Escala que Afectan las Actitudes Humanas hacia Leopardos de las Nieves y Lobos     

Daily dietary fluoride intake in rural villages of the Ethiopian Rift Valley

Dental and skeletal fluorosis is widespread in the Ethiopian Rift Valley region. Drinking water has been considered the main reason for the development of fluorosis, but dietary intake may also be a contributor in areas with high concentration of fluoride in water, soil, and biota. The purpose of this study is to assess the total daily dietary fluoride intake by adults in a rural part of the Ethiopian Rift Valley. The food, beverage, and water samples were collected from selected households of three neighboring villages with similar dietary pattern, but with different fluoride content in their water sources. Village A uses water with 1.0 mg L^?1 fluoride, village B uses water with 3.0 mg L^?1 fluoride, and village C uses water with 11.5 mg L^?1 fluoride both for food preparation and for drinking. The level of fluoride was determined in all food ingredients, in the prepared food, beverages, and in the water used for food preparation and drinking. Recipe and food frequency questionnaires were used to gather household food preparation and consumption patterns. An alkali fusion method was used for digestion of food samples and for subsequent determination of fluoride with ion-selective electrode. The daily fluoride intake varied depending on its concentration in the water used for cooking and drinking. In households using water with 1 mg L^?1, 3 mg L^?1, and 11.5 mg L^?1 fluoride, the total personal intake was found to be 10.5, 16.6, and 35.3 mg d^?1, respectively. Contribution of the water to the daily fluoride intake was 33%, 58%, and 86%, respectively. Even in households using water containing fluoride at a concentration of 1 mg L^?1, the daily intake was higher than the recommended safe intake of 1.5–4.0 mg d^?1 for adults, which indicates that the fluoride intake through food may cause health risks. Minimizing the fluoride concentration in water to the lowest possible level will greatly reduce the daily intake. The form of fluorine (organic or inorganic) in the food items and the associated health risk factors need further investigation.